BSU Office of Study Abroad 2017

Nicaragua Winter Travel Course

Office of Study Abroad at BSU @BSUStudyAbroad

January 2-15, 2017

Geography of Coffee Application Deadline Extended: Wednesday October 12 Rolling Acceptance Applications will now be reviewed and students accepted on a rolling basis. Students will be expected to pay the $300 deposit within two weeks of notification of acceptance.

Program Leaders

Program Description

Dr. James Hayes-Bohanan: [email protected]

Geography of Coffee is a travel course that examines the human, physical, and environmental geography of coffee production and trade. Course readings focus on the economic geography of the coffee trade. Pre-departure lectures provide an overview of the global patterns of coffee production and its agronomy and processing. The two-week travel portion includes carefully closen activities in coffeelands and elsewhere in a coffee-producing country, providing comprehensive exposure to the landscape and cultural envornment from which coffee emerges. Activities include hikes in coffee plantations and related environments; detailed presentations by coffee producers, processors, traders, and labor organizers; and visits to non-governmental and academic institutions in the coffeegrowing regions. The course includes direct involvement with coffee-growing communities, including meals and overnight stays with farm families.

Course Information 3 undergraduate credits in GEOG 295

Program Cost Estimated program price range: $2695 - $2995 The program fee will never exceed the maximum amount advertised and program fee refunds will be issued if there are savings.

Program Includes: meals, airfare, transportation, admissions, guides, events and accommodations. Additional Costs: tips & spending money

Accommodation Hotels in Matagalpa, Granada, Managua Homestay in La Corona; overnight at Center for Understanding the Nature ; hostel in El Zpilote;, Laguna de Apoyo; Finca Magdalena

NOTE : All costs and dates may be subject to change by BSU Office of Study Abroad.

Historical Sites and Highlights Chocolate factory tour; Selva negra; Masaya National Park; City tours in Managua, Matagalpa, Granada; traditional pottery workshop; cupping session; coffee farm visits

Contact Information BSU Office of Study Abroad Maxwell Library RM 330 Bridgewater, MA 02325 508.531.6183 www.bridgew.edu/studyabroad [email protected]

Nicaragua

ITINERARY Day 1 Depart Boston for Managua; transfer to Matagalpa

Day 2 City tour of Matgalpa; Tour El Castillo del Cacao chocolate factory Visit CECOCAFEN - talk on fair trade and international coffee market Transfer to Selva Negra Mountain hotel

Day 3 Los Pinos farm; La Hammonia farm Cloud forest walk

Day 4 Transfer to Jinotega: Visit black pottery cooperative; Tour Jinotega City Transfer to La Fundadora cooperative - learn how to produce and process coffee in a very traditional way

Day 5 Transfer to Penas Blancas Reserve; lunch at CEN Walk to Arcoiris waterfall Talk with Dr. Allan Bolt - water conservation

Day 6 Short walk around the researching center Transfer to La Corona community - walcome activity by local families Overnight stay with host family

Day 7 Coffee farm visit Cultural exchange activity Farewell dinner with the community

Nicaragua

ITINERARY Day 8 Transfer to Matagalpa Visit dry coffee processing plant Solcafe and cupping session Tour Cafe Nica Transfer to the Apoyo Lagoon

Day 9 Transfer to San Jorge dock; take public ferry to Ometepe Island Tour in Moyogalpa El Ceibo Museums en rote to Finca Magdelena for overnight

Day 10 Coffee and fina tour in Magdalena Visit El Ojo de Agua - rec center and natural volcanic swimming hole Transfer to El Zopilote Permaculture Farm

Day 11 Tour El Zopilote farm Lunch at Casa Istiam; free time at beach Transfer to Granada

Day 12 City tour of Granada; Boat tour in Nicaragua Big Lake Masaya Volcano National Park - nocturnal show of the lava lake

Day 13 Masaya’s Souvenir market Traditional pottery workshop at Los Pueblos Blancos Transfer to Managua - tour historic sites of capital city

Day 14 Departure from Managua to Logan

Nicaragua

Assignments All students are expected: Travel to Nicaragua. An intensive, twelve-day tour of Nicaragua during the winter session is the core experience ofthis course. The tour will include coffee farms of various sizes and configurations, cultural and historic sites, cooperatives related to handicrafts and agriculture, and natural areas including cloud forests, deserts, and active volcanoes. Students must meet all of the conditions for travel abroad that are required by the Office of Study Abroad. Students are expected to travel with open minds, curiosity, and flexibility.

Final Paper The final paper will be at a post-trip meeting to be held in February. It will be a substantial (6 to 8 pages) paper drawing on the field experience and outside readings as necessary, to explain what the trip revealed about the nature of the coffee trade.

Journal Students will write daily about the field portion of the class, including both personal and academic observations.

Required Readings : Javatrekker by Dean Cycon others study material will be posted on Blackboard

Grading Participation in U.S.

100 points

Participation in Nicaragua

200 points

Final Paper

200 points